Art of the Ancestors

In addition to the well-known San and Khoe rock art of southern Africa, there are other art forms made by Bantu-language speakers. These art forms are expressed in various ways and with different mediums. 

The Bantu-languages, those spoken by most South Africans today, have their origins in the Niger-Congo delta region of west Africa. Around three thousand years ago farmer groups spread into other parts of Africa. The first of these farmers arrived in southern Africa around AD 300.

Valley Tonga Pot from southern Zambia/northern Zimbabwe. 
The Tonga language is believed to be the oldest of the Bantu-languages spoken in Zambia. 

A common feature amongst Bantu-language groups is the importance placed on the long ancestral tradition of making pottery. 

These anthropomorphic vessels were used by traditional healers in Mpumalanga, South Africa. They were used to ward off evil, either sent as a form of maleficent magic by another person or by disgruntled ancestors.
Protective medicine was placed inside the gourds.

These back aprons were worn by Northern Sotho girls (South Africa) after their initiation school. The leather apron had two long 'tails' that dangled between the girls legs, symbolising the fertile nature of the girls. Women traditionally wore a similar apron throughout their lives. Aprons like these are depicted in painted rock art.

These front aprons were worn by girls throughout their initiation school. The apron was made from reeds, to which beads were attached. The reeds symbolise the ancestors who unite all Northern Sotho speakers. They also represent the coming of pubic hair on the girl, and therefore evoke her transition to being a fertile woman.

Usually just before marriage, but occasionally during initiation, girls in many parts of South Africa traditionally received a symbolic child figurine. The dolls played an educational role and medicinal role, sometimes containing medicinal herbs.

This type of front apron was worn by Tsonga girls (South Africa) after her first menstruation and throughout the duration of the girls' initiation schools. Only white beads are used and they serve to ritually cool the girl.

These clay figurines are copies of some of the oldest known initiation figurines in South Africa. Over 2 000 figurines, many broken, were found at the site of Schroda in Limpopo, South Africa, and date to AD 900 - 1000.  

Here we see images from typical Northern Sotho painted rock shelters. Various images were painted on the walls of the caves, especially animals like giraffe, lion, elephant, rhino, crocodile, hyena. Each animal had a special and secret meaning, known to the initiates.

During their initiation, males will be secluded in a special enclosure in nearby hills and mountains. Here they will connect with their ancestors. In the enclosure, the initiates learn about their social and moral obligations as men. 

Image by Peter Magubane.

This intricately carved, wooden headrest was made and used by Shona speakers from Zimbabwe.

Garden Roller beads were manufactured first at K2 site in Limpopo, South Africa from 800 AD. The beads, mostly translucent blues and greens, were made by smelting glass beads - that had been traded over long distances - and forming new large ones in clay moulds (Wood, 2005). 

Copper artefacts have been found at a range of sites in southern Africa, from small farmer homesteads to sites likely occu­pied by hunter-gatherers and herders. Pictured: Venda copper ingots, and sections of copper bracelets from South Africa.
Wits Archaeology Collection.

Mapungubwe Hill was southern Africa's first royal residence, encircled by a town with as many as 5000 inhabitants.
It was inhabited between 1000 and 1200 AD. Many special items of wealth, such as gold and ivory, were found and indicate extensive trade networks.

Great Zimbabwe is an ancient city. The architecture is distinctive and majestic with some measuring eleven metres high. The royal palace was situated on top of a hill, and was the seat of political and religious power. 
Some important artefacts recovered are the Zimbabwe Birds, which were carved from soapstone and placed on top of monoliths, some greater than two metres.